SR 91 Improvements - Riverside County

[andy3175]

State Route 91 in and around Riverside is going through extensive widening and reconstruction to accommodate additional lanes including HOV lanes that would link with under-construction lanes along Interstate 215 north. This construction has resulted in the demolition and removal of multiple highway bridges, and the demolition of one railroad bridge resulted in a worker fatality and resultant lawsuit against Caltrans.

The SR 91 official project webpage: http://www.sr91project.info/

The 91 in Riverside County ranks among the nation's worst commutes. Stop-and-go traffic is the norm, especially during morning and late afternoon rush hours. In fact, traffic congestion on eastbound 91 between Anaheim and Corona is routinely among the worst five areas in the nation.

Good news is on the way for drivers, thanks to the 91 Project. Led by RCTC, the project will add regular lanes, tolled express lanes, auxiliary lanes and direct express lane connectors from the northbound 15 to the westbound 91 and from the eastbound 91 to the southbound 15. Improvements to interchanges, ramps and surface streets also will be made along the 91 corridor.

The story on the demolition mishap:

http://www.pe.com/articles/bridge-758389-caltrans-faasalele.html

Caltrans, after initially expressing reservations, approved a subcontractor's plan to demolish the Pachappa railroad bridge over the 91 in Riverside last May — a plan blamed by state investigators for the death of a worker when the bridge collapsed during demolition.

The state Department of Industrial Relations subsequently fined the subcontractor, Hard Rock Equipment Rentals of Corona, for its decision to support the half of the bridge that collapsed with a Caterpillar loader, a piece of equipment that investigators determined was not fit for the job and became overloaded.

It was that idea to support the bridge with the loader that appeared to play a role in persuading Caltrans to finally accept the demolition plan.

The revelations about the approval by Caltrans — the California Department of Transportation — are contained in the daily reports filed by Caltrans engineer Al Alina that were attached to separate $10 million claims filed against the state by 10 family members of the deceased worker, foreman Okesene Faasalele Sr., 59, of Long Beach.

The demolition was part of the $232 million widening of the 91 between Adams Street near Cal Baptist and the 91/215/60 interchange in downtown Riverside.

Along the 6-mile corridor, carpool lanes are being extended. To accommodate the wider freeway, ramps are being upgraded and bridges for vehicles and trains are being replaced or widened.

For the Pachappa bridge, the plan was to cut the steel beams to split the structure, then remove one half at a time. A crane supported the first side that was removed. According to the Caltrans engineer's reports and investigators with Cal/OSHA — which is overseen by the Department of Industrial Relations — the side on which Faasalele was working was supported by two abutments and a Caterpillar loader. That tractor has a bucket in the front that is usually used to scoop up material and dump it in a truck.

[Desert Man]

The 91 needed expansion, but the project could been safer and better planned. Riverside and the county grew fast in the last 3 or 4 decades, and the 91 had to catch up with the growth.

[The Ghostbuster]

If I had my way, the 91 toll lanes would extend the entire length of the Highway 91 freeway. But since I've never been to California, such a pipe dream may be a long way off, if ever.

[ARMOURERERIC]

Once upon a time there was a planned freeway connecting 71/91 with 15/Cajalco, would have made such a big difference.

[TheStranger]

Once upon a time there was a planned freeway connecting 71/91 with 15/Cajalco, would have made such a big difference.

Do you have any documentation/planning maps showing this?

[Bickendan]

I want to say I saw something similar to that at some point, slated as a CA 71 extension, but I don't remember where.

[admtrap]

I recall it too, so I did a little google-fu

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/05/news/mn-39694
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tunnel-264010-project-toll.html

Essentially, it was going to be a tunnel through the Cleveland NF to connect I-15 and CA 241, as an alternate route/traffic reliever to CA 91 through the Santa Ana Canyon.  Very expensive Lexus lanes for poor people to get to their jobs in 2 hours instead of 4. 

From the OC Register story on the tunnel project's death;

[frozen]

I recall it too, so I did a little google-fu

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/05/news/mn-39694
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tunnel-264010-project-toll.html

Essentially, it was going to be a tunnel through the Cleveland NF to connect I-15 and CA 241, as an alternate route/traffic reliever to CA 91 through the Santa Ana Canyon.  Very expensive Lexus lanes for poor people to get to their jobs in 2 hours instead of 4. 

From the OC Register story on the tunnel project's death;

That thing has been proposed on and off for years, I think I recall reading about it in the 1990s.

[mrsman]

I recall it too, so I did a little google-fu

http://articles.latimes.com/1997/oct/05/news/mn-39694
http://www.ocregister.com/articles/tunnel-264010-project-toll.html

Essentially, it was going to be a tunnel through the Cleveland NF to connect I-15 and CA 241, as an alternate route/traffic reliever to CA 91 through the Santa Ana Canyon.  Very expensive Lexus lanes for poor people to get to their jobs in 2 hours instead of 4. 

From the OC Register story on the tunnel project's death;

That thing has been proposed on and off for years, I think I recall reading about it in the 1990s.

So do I.  I believe it was thought of a great idea to make the Irvine to Lake Elsinore commute shorter, but I believe they figured out that there wasn't that many people making the drive.  So the tunnel was not cost effective.

Plus, it seems that the 241, 261 toll roads adn the 91 express lanes have provided a lot of the new capacity that the tunnel would have provided. 

So, this is probably still going to be proposed for a while.